Hillside High students meet with state leaders to address school safety, gun violence

The meeting was proposed after State Superintendent Cathy Truitt saw a play Hllside High School students performed in February. The play addressed gun violence in schools.

Posted 1:02 a.m. May 31 — Updated 2:13 a.m. May 31

Julian Grace

, WRAL anchor/reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — A group of Hillside High School students had a private meeting with state leaders Tuesday in Raleigh to discussing how best to tackle school safety and gun violence.

The meeting comes at the end of a school year that included countless threats and guns on campuses across our area.

The meeting took place at the Department of Education Building in downtown shortly after 3 p.m. to meet with State Superintendent Cathy Truitt.

WRAL News was not allowed inside during the hour-and-a-half-long meeting, but students said they felt like their voices were heard and had clearer objectives.

"We definitely heard other perspective I believe this was a very productive conversation," said Aniyah Lowe, one of the students during the meeting.

The year has seen multiple school across the state go into lockdown, kids bringing guns to school and, in February, two students from Hillside High School were shot.

Hillside High School student dies, another hospitalized after shooting on American Tobacco Trail in Durham

In February, students at Hillside hosted a play called "State of Urgency," which addressed gun violence in schools. Superintendent Truitt was in the audience during its run. Truitt was so moved by the performance she invited the students to talk Tuesday.

“One things she did give us were points that were clear talking about how they would intervene and use funds to intervene at a school level how they would step in with training.” said Tiffany Agerston, the theater teacher at Hillside.

'State of Urgency': Durham students take the stage after teen shot near high school

A sentiment echoed by students.

[It's about] asking sure teachers have training, and the resources to better equipped our students with mental health, and help them emotionally [and] being able to go provide a safe space for students," said Taryn Melvin, another Hillside student.

The students also had a message for their peers: get involved.

"I believe that students should join, more clubs, more activities, so we won’t be out causing trouble," said Shayla Beulah, another Hillside student.

After their meeting with Superintendent Truitt, the Hillside students expressed their commitment to carrying these conversations forward.

They plan to utilize the play "State of Urgency" as a tool to encourage others to seek a better way.

Suggest A Correction